What are T Cells?

A T cell is a type of white blood cell present in the human body. The term T cell is short for Thymus
cell, the organ in which this type of white blood cell matures. T cells are important in maintaining the
body's immune system, and are critical in the fight against harmful invading substances.

When a virus or other invader enters your system, your body undergoes an immunological response.
Certain cells have receptors that can identify an attacking substance, and can activate different cells in
your body to find and destroy harmful invaders. People with a strong immune system typically have a
high amount of white blood cells and T cells. Patients with autoimmune diseases or who are suffering
from cancer are frequently subject to blood cell counts that can tell doctors how well their T cells and
other helpful cells are surviving and fighting their illness.

There are several different types of T cells in the body, each with a specific function. Helper T cells are
able to quickly divide and assist in the whole body's immunity response to attack by creating a helpful
protein called cytokine. Another type of T cell, often called a memory cell, helps the body remember to
fight off repeat infections, preventing you from catching the same illness more than once.

One of the most useful types of T cells also carries a huge drawback. Cytotoxic cells work to destroy
tumors or mutated cells, much like soldiers repelling an invader. Unfortunately, in transplants, this type
of cell can misidentify a transplanted organ as a threat, and attack it. Cytotoxic cells are considered
one of the main factors in transplant rejection.

T cells are considered extremely important in the fight against autoimmune diseases, especially in the
cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS.)
Many of the treatments currently in use for these viruses involve stimulating T cell production and
response in order to fight the detrimental effects of these conditions. Our naturally occurring “killer” T
cells are not able to effectively fight HIV, so scientists have developed a variety of techniques to
improve the cells and make the cell receptors more sensitive to this deadly virus.

Because the study of cellular function is still relatively new, there is still much science does not
understand about T cells and how they work. As they continue to study these helpful cells, it is
believed they will be able to reduce cell-caused transplant rejection and improve treatments for
autoimmune diseases. In the meantime, you may wish to thank your T cells once in a while, for
performing a vital service that keeps you healthy and alive.

What Are Plasma Cells?

Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies. As such, they are an important
part of the immune system. Plasma cells are formed from B cells produced in a person’s bone marrow.
Once produced, B cells mainly stay within the bone marrow and wait until an antigen appears in the
body. The antigens bind to the B cell and stimulate it to form plasma cells. The plasma cell then
produces antibodies to destroy the pathogen.

There are five types of white blood cells in the body: nuetrophils, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocytes,
and monocytes. Lymphocytes are divided into three types of cells: the T cells, natural killer cells, and
the B cells. T cells migrate to the thymus where they wait until being called for. Natural killer cells are
those that destroy damaged cells that could grow out of control. All three types of lymphocytes exist to
help the body remain defend itself against disease.
Plasma cells are just one method the body uses to fight diseases. Each plasma cell produces a
particular antibody to neutralize a particular antigen. When an antigen enters the body, they must first
bind to a B cell which then proliferates to form plasma cells. The plasma cells then secrete antibodies
that inactivate the pathogen and mark it for destruction. Normally, a plasma cell will produce antibodies
for four to five days and will then die.

When a new antigen enters the body, some time is needed until the body can develop antibodies to
fight them. Naïve B-cells will first have to be activated in order to be able to respond to a specific
disease causing agent. The antigen itself does this while it is flowing through the body. When it
encounters a naïve B cell, it will bind to it and help trigger clonal selection. Clonal selection is the
process by which activated B cells multiply in order to form several clones of itself.

Some of these clones become plasma cells. The plasma cells are then able to produce antibodies
against the disease causing agent. Some clone cells, however, do not form plasma cells but memory
cells. These memory cells can last in the body for years. Their purpose is to provide a quick response
to the antigen should it appear in the body in the future. This way, it will not take the body as long to
fight the same disease.